Matt Prior says he bears no grudges against the selectors despite his surprise omission from the England Development Squad.

But the 23-year-old admits his one-day career-best on Sunday could not have been better timed.

Sussex's wicketkeeper-batsman made the second one-day century of his career on Sunday, three days after he was told by chairman of selectors David Graveney that he would not be ignored if he continued to perform in county cricket.

Prior responded with a career-best 144 in Sussex's win over Warwickshire in the totesport League.

Prior said: "It probably wasn't the best hundred I've scored but in terms of making a statement it was. It came at the right time.

"I hold no grudges about not being in the 25. David Graveney phoned me and told me that if I am scoring lots of runs and keeping consistently well then I will still be in the shop window as far as England are concerned and that's good enough for me."

Sunday's performance came at the end of a tough fortnight for Prior after he became embroiled in the sledging row between his skipper Chris Adams and Shane Warne which followed Sussex's last home Championship match against Hampshire.

"I've purposely tried not to get involved in the Shane Warne business," he added.

"I don't want to be part of a slanging match over something that, as far as I'm concerned, should stay on the pitch.

"I've been nailed over here and in Australia for something that I had no control over which has been blown completely out of proportion.

"I know why a meal was made of it - because it is an Ashes summer and Shane Warne is a big character.

"But what happened during that game has never been an issue for me. The only thing I was worried about was working out how I would play Warne the next time because he got me out fair and square twice."

Once the fuss had died down Prior had the disappointment of being left out of the development squad to deal with but Sunday proved that he has more mental strength than some people were prepared to give him credit for. His ability has never been in doubt.

"I had a few questions to answer, to myself as much as anyone else," he admitted.

"Could I take the pressure and could I bounce back after being left out of the England squad? I don't normally show that much emotion when I get a hundred but it really meant something on Sunday.

"The last two weeks have been tough. The media have built me up in the last few months which is nice but you get to the stage where you wonder when you are going to fall.

"What I have to do is free my mind from all the outside interference and just play. It's a never-ending fight. Most of the time that battle is with yourself."

Prior faces Warwickshire again at Hove today (11am) in a Championship match which could be pivotal to Sussex's season.

The county badly need to bounce back after their ten-wicket defeat against new first division leaders Nottinghamshire ten days ago in the battle of the last two champions.

Prior said: "It will be a tough four days against Warwickshire but there's no doubt in my mind that we're good enough to beat them."

All-rounder Robin Martin-Jenkins will have a fitness test on his twisted knee but Luke Wright is standing by to make only his second Championship appearance should he miss out.

Sussex: Montgomerie, Ward, Yardy, Goodwin, Adams, Prior, Martin-Jenkins or Wright, van der Wath, Mushtaq Ahmed, Kirtley, Lewry.

Warwickshire: Knight, Powell, Trott, Bell, Loudon, Brown, Frost, Streak, Giles, Carter, Pretorius.